Hydraulic speed checker and cooling means

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic turbo speed checker for use for example on a drive shaft of a road vehicle, comprising a bladed rotor rotatable within a bladed stator carried within a sealed casing connected to an adjacent sealed radiator unit. The radiator unit has an aperture therethrough to accommodate a shaft on which the rotor is mounted, said shaft projecting on either side of the checker for attachment to the drive shaft. The spaces between the blades of the stator lead to a manifold connected to the top of the radiator above the level of oil therein whilst the bottom of the radiator is connected to a central section adjacent the rotor shaft and upstream of the stator.

United States Patent [1 1 [1 1 3,776,332 DAssignies 1 Dec. 4, 1973HYDRAULIC SPEED CHECKER AND COOLING MEANS Inventor: Jean DAssignies,Chateau des Astiers, Saint Heand (Lorie), France Filed: Sept. 30, 1971Appl. No.: 185,007

US. Cl. 188/290, 60/337, 188/264 F,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1968 Smith l88/290X 10/1963Smith 188/290 X Primary Examiner-George E. A. Halvosa Att0rneySughrue,Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak 5 7 ABSTRACT A hydraulic turbo speedchecker for use for example on a drive shaft of a road vehicle,comprising a bladed rotor rotatable within a bladed stator carriedwithin a sealed casing connected to an adjacent sealed radiator unit.The radiator unit has an aperture therethrough to accommodate a shaft onwhich the rotor is mounted, said shaft projecting on either side of thechecker for attachment to the drive shaft. The spaces between the bladesof the stator lead to a manifold connected to the top of the radiatorabove the level of oil therein whilst the bottom of the radiator isconnected to a central section adjacent the rotor shaft and upstream ofthe stator.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUUEC 41925 3.776,; 332

sum 2 OF 3 PATENTEDDEC 41915 37763332 SHEET 3n; 3 w

HYDRAULIC SPEED CHECKER AND COOLING MEANS The present invention relatesto a speed-checker device intended to be fitted, for example, to a roadvehicle.

It is known to mount on the transmission shaft of a lorry or car, aspeed-checker device intended to complete the action of the brakesduring the period in which the vehicle slows down, and even toconstitute a safety speed checker in case the brakes fail.

A type of speed-checker currently used is electrically operated. Itcomprises a rotor, the braking of which is effected by eddy-currents.This type of device hasvarious drawbacks. Firstly, since itabsorbsalternating current, it is necessary, in particular, to mount analternator on the vehicle. Moreover, supplementary accumulator batteriesmust be provided to provide a: greater capacity. Finally, thespeed-checker is dependent on the good operation of the electricalcircuitry on the vehicle.

To avoid these drawbacks, certain engineers have proposed to use a turbospeed checker, ie. a device where the slowing down effect is obtained byoil circulating in a closed circuit. However, turbo speedcheckers knownat present have serious drawbacks. Firstly, since the braking of thevehicles causes the oil to be heated, it is necessary to pass the latterthrough a cooling radiator. Due to the weight andconsiderable size ofthe known turbo speed-checkers the radiator must placed at a point onthe vehicle which is relatively distant from the speed. checker:pipe-work musttherefore be provided, often of great length, whichconnect the turbo speed-checker. proper to its reservoir.

In another connection, when the vehicle is moved without desiring tocause the turbo speed-checker to operate, cooling of the latter isensured by air circulating in open circuit: i.e., atmospheric air isdrawn into the device, is caused to circulate in the device and then isexhaustedto the outside through a snifting valve. On the onehand, thisdoesnot comply with the regulation for it contributes to the pollutionof the atmosphere. On the other hand, despite the presence of a sniftingvalve at the outlet, the oil consumption rises and it is necessary tocheck constantly the oil level of thedevice and to refill it, ifnecessary.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate thesedrawbacks by providing a newtype of turbo speed checker which isself-contained, has fluidtight circuits when closed, and is relativelylight and small sized.

A hydraulic turbo speed-checker according to the invention, for use on arotary shaft, comprises a rotor having rotary centrifugal bladesopposite to a peripheral ring of fixed blades on the interior of astator, and is characterised in that the spaces between the fixed bladesof stator are connected with a common annular manifold which isconnected by an upperpiping to an upper section of a fluid-tightradiator, this piping emerging in the radiator above a predetermined oillevel whereas the lower section of the radiator is connectedby anotherpiping at a. central section upstream of the stator, through whichcentral section a rotary shaft of the rotor passes, so that a fandisposed adjacent the radiator is fixeddirectly onto the shaft of therotor, the arrangement of the device thus constituting a onepiece andself-contained unit.

Preferably, the oil radiator has a. central aperture through whichpasses the corresponding end of the shaft of the rotor so that thisshaft projects at each end beyond the self-contained unit constituted bythe whole turbo speed-checker, which makes it possible for this unit tobeinserted into a transmission shaft or between any two rotaryassemblies.

Preferably also, a stop valve is disposed immediately upstream of aninlet at the centrifugal rotor, said stop valve being movable between aposition in which it bears against a fixed seat of an annular, statorvalve and a position in which it is spaced from this seat to allowcooledoil from the radiator to pass through the inlet to theblades ofthe rotor.

There may also be provided'a fork with a tort movement for controllingthe moving part of this valve, said fork being integral with a slidablyfluid-tight rod which constitutes a slide of a valve capable ofinterrupting or establishing connection between two portions of an airpipingwhich is connected on the one hand to the upper chamber of theradiator, above the predetermined oillevel, and on the other hand to apipe connected di rectly on the inlet to the blades of the rotor.

If the turbo speed-checker is mounted on an automobile vehicle, the rodforming the slide of the valve is preferably connected to theaccelerator pedal of the vehicle, so that during acceleration aircirculation is established in closed circuit before interrupting the oilcirculation, whereas in the case of decelleration, the air circulationis interrupted before establishing oil circulation in closed' circuit.

The fan. can be disposed, either between the stator and the radiator, oroutside against the radiator.

An embodiment of the present invention, will now be described, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hydraulic turbo speed checkeraccording to the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically the installation of the hydraulic turbospeed checker of FIG. 1 on the transmission shaftof a. lorry,

FIG. 3is a sectional view along the line Ill III of FIG. 1 showing thespeed checker in a slowing down position; and

FIG. 4 is a similar sectional view in an inoperative position, ie., in acooling position.

The hydraulic turbo speed checker shown in the drawing is-inthe form ofa self-contained arrangement, as shown on FIGS. 1 and 2. Thisarrangement comprises a fixed completely fluid tight gear case 1, and aradiator 2alsofixed and fluid tight. These two cases are connected by anupper piping 3and a lower piping 4. Betweenthese, a free space 5 isprovided where a cool ing fan6 is lodged. This fan 6 is fixed ontoarotary shaft 7 whichat the same time passes right through the fixedgear case 1 and the radiator 2. At its ends, the rotary shaft 7 isterminated by flanges 8 and 9, which make it possible to insert thespeed checker for example, on a transmission shaft 10 of a vehicle, suchas a lorry or a bus (FIG. 2).

In particular, the radiator 2 is provided with a centeral aperture 11through which the rotary shaft 7 passes.

The radiator 2 is provided with a filler plug 12 which is fluid tightwhen closed and which is used to fill the device with oil, the oilseeking a fixed level ,13 shown on .FIGS. 3 and 4 by the reference 13.

As an alternative, the fan could be disposed on the outside of the speedchecker, against the radiator 2.

The gear-case 1 is formed by three members, namely:

a body or case 14 which defines an inner wall 15 of a cylinder ofrevolution, from which radial fixed blades 16 extend inwardly;

a cover 17 which laterally closes the body 14;

a partitioning distributor 18, made for example, from pressed plate theperiphery 18aof which being lodged between the body 14 and cover 17.

Thus, to assemble the gear case 1, it is sufficient to make a peripheralwelded bead 19 which ensured that the members 14, 17 and 18 are integralwith each other.

On the rotary shaft which is to be slowed down, a rotor 20 of acentrifugal pump of a type known per se, is fixed. This rotor isequipped with vanes 21 each of which have the peculiarity of beingextended at their periphery, by a blade 22, extending parallel to theaxis of the shaft 7, and placed adjacent to the fixed blades 16.

The vanes 21 each have a concave profile known in itself, and are openup-stream near the cover 17, in the immediate vicinity of the shaft 7,and downstream at the level of the blades 22.

A central section 18b of the distributor 18 avoids the profile of vanes21, with a clearance 23 as small as possible.

Thus, the interior of the stator 1 is divided into two chambers, namely:

an oil admission chamber 24 which is permanently connected to the bottomsection of the radiator 2 through the intermediary of the distributor 18and passages 25 and 26;

a centrifugal chamber 27 within which revolves the rotor 20, 21, 22.

The interstices between the fixed blades 16 are connected by at leastone lateral aperture 28 to a fixed manifold 29, which is connected via apassage 30 to the piping 3 which emerges in the upper section of theradiator 2, i.e., in a chamber 31 containing air and defined above oillevel 13.

Furthermore, this air chamber 31 is connected permanently to a piping 32in the path of which a sliding spool-valve 33 of a distributor isinserted. This spoolvalve 33 comprises a groove 34 which allowscirculation of air between the two parts of the piping 32, upstream anddownstream of the spool valve 33, when the latter is in the position ofFIG. 4. On the contrary, if the spool-valve 33 occupies the position ofFIG. 3, i.e., if

the groove 34 is shifted with respect to the piping 32, the latter iscut off and the air circulation interrupted.

A fixed annular fluid-tight seat 35 (FIG. 3) is provided on the concavesection 18b of the fixed distributor 18 located about the apertureupstream from the rotor 20, 21. A sliding part of a stop-valve 36 maybear against this seat 35. The front of this valve has a support face inthe shape of a truncated cone which rests on the seat 35 whenthearrangement is in the closed position (FIG. 4).

The piping 32 emerges through a fixed aperture 42 at the contre by fixedhub 43 which carries the sliding valve 36, i.e., the aperture 42 is openpermanently on the inlet side of the rotor 20, 21 is admitted.

The back of the sliding valve 36 bears against the cover 17 through theintermediary of a resilient adjustment washer 37. The resilient washer37 tends to keep the sliding valve 36 in the closed position, i.e.,bearing against the seat 35 (FIG. 4).

To open the valve 36, it is therefore necessary to push it back whilstcompressing the resilient washer 37. For this purpose, an annular groove38 is provided on the periphery of the sliding valve 36, in which thetwo pins of a selector fork 39 are engaged in the normal mannervHowever, the assembly has a peculiarity; the fork 39 is mounted withconsiderable axial play 40. This fork 39 is integral with the inner endof a rod forming the sliding spool valve 33. The sliding is carried outagainst a compression spring 41 (FIG. 4) which tends to urge thespool-valve 33 into the position shown in FIG. 4, i.e., that in whichthe groove 34 establishes connection between the two portions of thepiping 32, whereas the fork 39 releases the sliding valve 36 which isurged to bear against the fixed seat 35 by the action of the resilientwasher 37.

Finally, the exterior section of the sliding slide-valve 33 is connectedpreferably by a system of rods not shown, to the accelerator pedal ofthe lorry or bus.

The operation is as follows:

' In the normal operative position of the vehicle, i.e., when it is notdesired to slow down rotation of the shaft 7, the sliding valve 33occupies the position shown in FIG. 4, i.e., the valve 36 cuts off theoil circulation by preventing cell connection between the chambers 24and 27, whereas, on the contrary, air circulation is effected freely, inparticular in piping 32. Under these conditions, the centrifugal rotor20, 21, draws in air through the aperture 42 and forces it between thefixed blades 16, with no noticeable braking effect, from whence this airpasses through the aperture 28 and the pipings 29, 30 and 3 as far asthe air chamber 31 of the radiator 2. Air is drawn from this chamber bythe piping 32 in order to return it to the inlet aperture 42 of therotor. Thus, when the automobile vehicle runs normally, the interior ofthe speed checker is cooled by this air circulation brought about inclosed circuit. It will be noted that there is not a single vent-valve,i.e., the operation of the speed checker in no way pollutes thesurrounding atmosphere, as there is no risk that oil will be lost.

When the vehicle slows down, and it is desired to check the rotation ofthe shaft 7, the spool-valve 33 is caused to slide in the directionindicated in FIG. 3 by the arrow 43. When this happens, the groove 34 isfirst shifted which cuts off the piping 32, so that the air circulationis interrupted, On this occasion, the fork 39 is displaced to the back,but owing to the considerable axial play 40, it can be displaced for acertain time without driving the valve 36 which remains closed on itsseat 35. At the end of the travel, i.e., when the air circulation hasalready been interrupted, the fork 39 strikes the back of the groove 38(FIG. 3) and drives the valve 36 which is opened by compressing thewasher 37. Thereafter, connection is established between the two oilchambers 24 and 27. The oil drawn by the rotor 20 into the chamber 24 isforced between the blades 22 and the fixed blades 16, which gives riseto an extremely large braking effect on the shaft 7. This braking causesthe oil to be heated which is forced through the aperture 28 and pipings30, then as far as the upper chamber 31 of the radiator 2. The oil thendescends progressively through the radiator 2 where it is cooled, thenit reaches the return pipe 4, from whence it returns via the pipings 25and 26 to the chamber 24 which directs it through a new cycle.

Here again it will be noted that the oil circulation take place withinan absolutely closed circuit without releasing any fumes or vapour tothe outside.

What is claimed is:

l. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker comprising a fixed fluid type housinghaving a centrifugal chamber, a rotor disposed in said centrifugalchamber and having a shaft extending through said housing and aplurality of radially outwardly directed vanes secured to said shaftwhich each of said vanes having an axially extending blade portionintegral with the outer end of each vane, said housing having aplurality of radially inwardly directed blades disposed adjacent saidaxially extending blades, manifold means in said housing adjacent saidblades and disposed in fluid communication with the space between saidblades, fixed fluid type radiator means surrounding said shaft in spacedaxial relation to said housing, fan means secured to said shaftintermediate said housing and said radiator means, first passage meansconnecting said manifold means to the upper portion of said radiatormeans at a point above the normal hydraulic fluid level in said radiatormeans, second passage means connecting said radiator means at a pointbelow said level to said centrifugal chamber adjacent the root end ofsaid vanes, first valve means controlling the flow of hydraulic fluidthrough said second passage means, third passage means connecting saidupper portion of said radiator means to said centrifugal chamberadjacent the root end of said vanes and second valve means controllingthe flow of air through said third passage means, said first valve meanscomprises an annular hub secured to said housing and surrounding saidshaft adjacent said vanes, a portion of said housing spaced radiallyoutwardly from said hub adjacent the root end of said vanes and anannular valve member slidably mounted on said hub for movement into andout of engagement with said portion of said housing.

2. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidsecond valve means is comprised of a spool valve extending through saidhousing and intersecting said third passage means and shift meanssecured to the end of said spool valve within said housing for shiftingsaid valve member of said said second valve means.

3. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidvalve member is provided with an annular groove and said shifting meansis comprised of a fork extending into said annular groove with axialplay therein, first spring means normally biasing said first valve meansto the closed position and second spring means normally biasing saidsecond valve means to said open position.

4. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidthird passage means includes a bore extending through said hub andhaving an aperture disposed adjacent the wood portion of said vanes.

1. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker comprising a fixed fluid type housinghaving a centrifugal chamber, a rotor disposed in said centrifugalchamber and having a shaft extending through said housing and aplurality of radially outwardly directed vanes secured to said shaftwhich each of said vanes having an axially extending blade portionintegral with the outer end of each vane, said housing having aplurality of radially inwardly directed blades disposed adjacent saidaxially extending blades, manifold means in said housing adjacent saidblades and disposed in fluid communication with the space between saidblades, fixed fluid type radiator means surrounding said shaft in spacedaxial relation to said housing, fan means secured to said shaftintermediate said housing and said radiator means, first passage meansconnecting said manifold means to the upper portion of said radiatormeans at a point above the normal hydraulic fluid level in said radiatormeans, second passage means connecting said radiator means at a pointbelow said level to said centriFugal chamber adjacent the root end ofsaid vanes, first valve means controlling the flow of hydraulic fluidthrough said second passage means, third passage means connecting saidupper portion of said radiator means to said centrifugal chamberadjacent the root end of said vanes and second valve means controllingthe flow of air through said third passage means, said first valve meanscomprises an annular hub secured to said housing and surrounding saidshaft adjacent said vanes, a portion of said housing spaced radiallyoutwardly from said hub adjacent the root end of said vanes and anannular valve member slidably mounted on said hub for movement into andout of engagement with said portion of said housing.
 2. A hydraulicturbo-speed checker as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second valvemeans is comprised of a spool valve extending through said housing andintersecting said third passage means and shift means secured to the endof said spool valve within said housing for shifting said valve memberof said said second valve means.
 3. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker asset forth in claim 2 wherein said valve member is provided with anannular groove and said shifting means is comprised of a fork extendinginto said annular groove with axial play therein, first spring meansnormally biasing said first valve means to the closed position andsecond spring means normally biasing said second valve means to saidopen position.
 4. A hydraulic turbo-speed checker as set forth in claim3 wherein said third passage means includes a bore extending throughsaid hub and having an aperture disposed adjacent the wood portion ofsaid vanes.